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Welcome to
The Essential Jesus
blog. I will be posting things of interest along the way as TOGETHER we journey through the life of Christ! All in hopes of sharpening our focus on Jesus so that we might run with endurance the race set before us (Hebrews 12:1-3)!

Friday, December 7, 2012

Empty Ritual

Week 2, Day 5 Reading: Amos 5:1-27

Amos 5:21-23  “I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen."

During the days of Amos the prophet, the people of Israel were doing all the "religious" things. They were gathering in solemn assemblies and offering up the sacrifices demanded by God in the Law. They were even worshiping God through song. Yet God told them in no uncertain terms that this worship was all worthless as far as he was concerned. You see, it was merely empty ritual. They were going through the motions of religion ... but their hearts were not in it. As a result, it was not God's blessing and favor they received, but his rebuke and judgment. In fact, less than forty years after Amos prophesied to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, the Assyrian army invaded and conquered the kingdom. 

Do we need a savior? This weeks readings scream a definitive "YES!" 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 
pj

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